Lilac Gate

Remembrance Day

2009-11-11T11:17:00.003-05:00

Today is Remembrance Day, the anniversary of the signing of the treaty ending World War I, the Great War, the War to End All Wars.

This is the National War Memorial, beside the Parliament Buildings in downtown Ottawa.

A few years ago, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added to the site, and someone had laid a single red rose there, the day I visited.

This is a time to remember the fallen, and those who caught up the torch, to continue the fight. We owe them more than we can ever pay.

Horse Chestnuts on the Ground

2009-11-10T18:25:00.000-05:00

Every fall, the squirrels and I argue over who collects the horse chestnuts when they fall.

I love to have a handful in the pocket of my jacket.

No particular reason, just the colour and the texture.

The easiest way to break open the spiky pods is to step on the carefully, just enough to brwak the green, and not enough to break the actual nut.

Horse Chestnuts on the Tree

2009-11-09T23:31:00.000-05:00

http://lilacgate.blogspot.com/2009/06/horse-chestnut-flowers.html

Do you remember in the spring, when I was posting horse chestnut flowers? Well, here are the results of those flowers! I don't think I have done the link right, but it will get you there.

Bowlful of Acorns

2009-11-09T12:17:00.003-05:00

I have been doing some housecleaning and sorting photos.

I took these a month ago, and did not get them posted.

I gathered a bowl full of acorns

while the oak trees were shedding them.

Mullein

2009-11-06T21:22:00.000-05:00

The hairy leaves of the mullein

capture the dew and frost so nicely.

And sometimes they catch milkweed seeds, too.

First Snow 2009

2009-11-06T08:10:00.002-05:00

It has happened -

the white stuff is here again.

It will not stay long, this time.

Corn

2009-11-06T07:16:00.000-05:00

The corn is getting very dry, so I don't think it could be used for human consumption any longer.

The weight of a lot of the cobs has turned them upside down.

Skies over the Cornfields

2009-11-05T23:11:00.000-05:00

This cornfield has not been harvested yet.

I have no idea why, but I doubt the farmer planted it for the deer that are taking refuge in it.

Skywatch Friday

2009-11-05T14:05:00.001-05:00

The clouds were moving quickly past this elm tree.

Horse

2009-11-05T13:29:00.000-05:00

I discovered a new walking trail along the back of the Equestrian Park,

and one of the horses came over to the fence to visit.

I picked some crab apples off a nearby tree to feed him, and told him next time I would bring a couple of carrots.

Windy Day

2009-11-05T05:30:00.000-05:00

The branches are in focus, but the leaves are too busy

blowing in the wind!

Running Water

2009-11-05T05:16:00.000-05:00

This small stream has appeared in my blog many times.

It has to do with the endless fascination of running water.

Refections of a Sunrise

2009-11-04T17:13:00.000-05:00

Taken last week, before the return to Standard Time,

the colours of the sunrise reflect in the water. Along with the traffic lights from the road!

Fog

2009-11-04T07:10:00.000-05:00

I love the fog!

The whole world seems different!

The trees in the distance are ghostly presences, maybe here or maybe not.

The path entices me to walk further!

Watery Wednesday

2009-11-03T16:50:00.000-05:00

At the dog park, there are a couple of places where I can see across this small pond

to the birch tree on the other side. Often, there are ducks, geese, and herons in the water.

But none today.

Lacy Leaf

2009-11-03T08:50:00.000-05:00

This leaf makes an interesting pattern against the water.

Buddy

2009-11-02T23:07:00.000-05:00

My neighbour has a new baby, named Buddy. He is a boxer/American bulldog cross, 13 weeks old now. Annie and Jake are starting to play with him now.

Oak Leaves

2009-11-02T16:57:00.002-05:00

The oak leaves are showing their age,

and a little bit of frost.

Grass

2009-10-31T15:51:00.000-04:00

I have no idea what sort of grass this is,

but there is a good sized clump of it

growing at the dog park.

I have been told my fascination with it is quite unnecessary, as it doesn't smell of anything interesting to dogs,

although a lot of photographers have trampled paths through it.

Frost on the Leaves

2009-10-31T03:47:00.000-04:00

One thing about this time of year, the alarm goes off just before sunrise,

so I see a lot of frost on the ground (and the rooves, and the cars...)

As the sun rises, the frost starts to melt,

which can cause some interesting patterns on the leaves.

Driftwood

2009-10-30T15:49:00.000-04:00

This is an interesting former tree. I wonder how far it floated downstream before it ran aground, and whether it will still be here after the spring floods.

Look Up, Look 'Way Up

2009-10-30T06:59:00.000-04:00

The leaves are so colourful against the blue of the sky.

Even moreso as some of the leaves fall,

so you can see the individual leaves on the trees.

And I really like staring straight up! It is safest to lean on a nice trunk when you do this, though!

Pumpkins

2009-10-30T06:47:00.000-04:00

Thousands and thousands

of pumpkins waiting for their big night!

Skywatch Friday

2009-10-29T14:13:00.000-04:00

Some of the sunrises of the last couple of weeks.

I love the angle of the light at dawn - not enough to get up early in the summer, but enough to take a lot of photos at this time of the year.

Sometimes the cloud formations are unusual, as when this storm front was moving in from the west.

And one morning, I had to get up even more early than usual, and the sky was still very dark!

Geese Preening

2009-10-28T23:20:00.000-04:00

I was at Mooney's Bay last week, and the geese

came back after a day of feeding in the fields.

The next order of business was to tidy up. I like the synchronized preening exhibit here.

And then you have to stretch...

and settle more feathers.

Swans have 22 vertebrae in their necks, and geese must have nearly the same number, being closely related. I think. In any case, they can turn their heads upside down, as you can tell from the position of his chin patch!